How can I get my kid to drink water?!

Cherie - posted on 01/29/2010
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My son will be 15 months old on the 31st and he will not drink water! I water his juice down as much as I can but if it's too much, he won't drink it. He also won't drink cows milk. He is still breastfeeding in the mornings, afternoon nap times(most days)at night for bedtime and sometimes in the middle of the night. How can I get him to drink water? I've tried putting it in different cups, let him drink out of my water bottles, but he will only have a sip or two and that's it. Thanks for your help!

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Iridescent - posted on 01/30/2010

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Make sure water is always available during the day in a sipper cup. If it's the main drink allowed, they will eventually drink it (and lots of it). Ours didn't want water either for a while, but they adjusted within a week. Don't be too concerned about him not drinking milk; it's not needed at any point in his life (other than HUMAN/FORMULA for the first year).

Mom with teen twins here I agree with the posts here they will drink when they are thirsty and my boys never drank water when they were little Little taste buds are very sensitive watered down juice is water .. My boys eating and drinking habits at that age were so different from each other .. My ped doc always had to remind me they will eat and drink when they are hungry and thirsty. My boys were preemies so I was always worried about nutrition . My kids also drink less in winter its cold who wants cold drinks now Not really sure where you live .. Good luck

Have you tried adding ice cubes to the sippy cups? My son will only drink water with cubes in it. LOL Crazy I know. Also what about threw a straw. He is getting water through the breast milk. Also keep in mind a child needs half his weight in oz. So if he weighs 20 pounds, then he needs 10 oz of water a day.

Sometimes the best you can do is the best you can do. I water my childs juice down, and he gets plenty of water that way. You are also breastfeeding, so e is getting alot of what he truly needs from you. The ONLY way I get my 3 1/2 year old to drink milk, is if I put 1 inch of strawberry milk, then 7 oz of white milk. That is how it has always been, pretty much since I introduced cows milk. I know he doesn't need the sugar, but it flavors it enough for him to drink the milk. I figure there is more harm in him NOT drinking it...and my pediatrician agrees. Your baby may not need cows milk becouse you are breastfeeding, but that is an issue you should discuss with your Doctor...and it won't hurt to try mixing like I need to. Good luck, but it already sounds like you are doing everything right. Don't stress, sounds like he is getting everything he needs.